The district court here today rejected the discharge application of one of the accused in the Kopardi gang-rape and murder case.
Judge Suvarna Kewale rejected the application filed by Nitin Bhailume, who contended that he was not present in the area when the crime took place.
Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said there was sufficient evidence against Bhailume as all three had hatched the conspiracy.
"Though the police did not charge-sheet Bhailume for criminal conspiracy, investigation papers prima facie disclose that all three accused hatched the criminal conspiracy to commit rape and murder," Nikam said.
The court was ready to proceed with framing of charges today, but Bhailume's lawyer sought more time as he wanted to file an appeal in the High Court.
The 15-year-old victim was raped and murdered at Kopardi in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra on July 13 this year. The police filed the charge sheet against Jitendra Shinde, Santosh Bhawal and Bhailume on October 7.
The incident caused considerable outrage among the politically dominant Maratha community to which the victim belonged, triggering 'silent marches' by the community all over Maharashtra for demands, including reservation in government jobs and educational institutions.
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